Differential amplifier circuit with symmetric circuit topology

ABSTRACT

A differential amplifier circuit receives a pair of input signals to develop an output signal. First and second MOS transistors have commonly-connected gates and sources. A third MOS transistor has a drain connected to the commonly-connected gates, and a source connected to the first MOS transistor&#39;s drain. The third MOS transistor&#39;s gate is connected to a constant voltage source. A constant current source is connected to the third MOS transistor&#39;s drain. A first terminal, connected to the first MOS transistor&#39;s drain and to the third MOS transistor&#39;s source, provides an input current. A second terminal, connected to the first and second MOS transistors&#39; commonly-connected sources, provides a common reference. A third terminal, connected to the second MOS transistor&#39;s drain, provides an output current.

The present application is a Continuing Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/274,183 filed on Nov. 16, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a voltage comparator circuit, and in particular, relates to a voltage comparator circuit suitable for a high-speed differential signal interface.

2. Description of the Related Art

Differential signaling is one of the well-known approaches for achieving a high-speed signal interface. For example, RSDS™ (Reduced Swing Differential Signaling), and mini-LVDS™ (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) are going to be standardized as an interfacing scheme between an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) driver and a timing controller within an LCD apparatus.

Receiver circuits used for differential signaling typically incorporate a voltage comparator circuit with differential inputs. Differential signals received by a differential signal receiver typically have a frequency of approximately 85 MHz for RSDS™, and 200 MHz for mini-LVDS™. The amplitude of the differential signal component of the differential signals is approximately ±50 mV, and the amplitude of the common-mode signal component ranges from 0.3 V to V_(DD)-0.5 V, where V_(DD) is a power supply voltage. A voltage comparator circuit within a receiver circuit is required to meet the specifications described above. With a circuit configuration presently released, however, it is difficult to satisfy both the specifications of the common-mode signal component, and an operation speed at the same time.

A voltage comparator circuit adapted to differential signals is typically based on a differential amplifier topology. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a structure of a differential amplifier circuit disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 03-62712). The conventional differential amplifier circuit is provided with first and second differential transistor pairs DF11 and DF12, first to fifth current mirror circuits CM11 to CM15, and first and second constant current sources I11 and I12.

The first differential transistor pair DF11 is composed of first and second P-channel MOS transistors MP11 and MP12. Correspondingly, the second differential transistor pair DF12 is composed of first and second N-channel MOS transistors MN11 and MN12.

The first current mirror circuit CM11 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP11, a common terminal connected to an earth terminal (V_(SS) terminal), and an output terminal connected to the input terminal of the fifth current mirror circuit CM15. The second current mirror circuit CM12, on the other hand, has an input terminal connected to the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP12, a common terminal connected to the V_(SS) terminal, and an output terminal connected to an output terminal OUT of the differential amplifier circuit.

The third current mirror circuit CM13 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN11, a common terminal connected to a power supply terminal (V_(DD) terminal), and an output terminal connected to the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP12 and also to the input terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM12. The fourth current mirror circuit CM14 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN12, a common terminal connected to the V_(DD) terminal; and the output terminal is connected to the input terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM11 and also to the drain of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP11. Finally, the fifth current mirror circuit CM15 has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM11, a common terminal connected to the V_(DD) terminal, and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM12 and also to the output terminal OUT of the differential amplifier circuit.

The first constant current source I11 is connected between the V_(DD) terminal and the commonly-connected sources of the first and second P-channel MOS transistor MP11 and MP12. The second constant current source I12 is connected between the V_(SS) terminal and the commonly-connected sources of the first and second N-channel MOS transistors MN11 and MN12.

The gates of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP11 and the first N-channel MOS transistor MN11 are commonly connected to an inverting input terminal In⁻ of the differential amplifier circuit. Correspondingly, the gates of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP12 and the second N-channel MOS transistor MN12 are commonly-connected to non-inverting input terminal In⁺.

Operation analysis the conventional differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 1 is given in the following.

First, basic operation of a differential transistor pair is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a basic circuit configuration of the differential transistor pair, and FIG. 3 shows input-to-output characteristics of the differential transistor pair. The studied differential transistor pair is composed of N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22 having commonly-connected sources. A constant current source ISS for supplying an electric current Iss is connected between the commonly-connected sources and a V_(SS) terminal. When a set of DC voltages Vi1 and Vi2 are supplied to the gates of the N-channel MOS transistors MN21, and MN22, respectively, the following formula (1) holds: V _(i1) −V _(GS1) +V _(GS2) −V _(i2)=0   (1) where V_(GS1) and V_(GS2) are gate-source voltages of the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22, respectively.

Additionally, the gate-source voltages V_(GS1) and V_(GS2) are represented by the following formulas: $\begin{matrix} {\beta = {\frac{W}{L}\mu\quad C_{O}}} & (2) \\ {V_{{GS}\quad 1} = {\sqrt{\frac{2I_{d\quad 1}}{\beta}} + V_{T}}} & (3) \\ {V_{{GS}\quad 2} = {\sqrt{\frac{2I_{d\quad 2}}{\beta}} + V_{T}}} & (4) \end{matrix}$ where I_(d1) and I_(d2) are drain currents through the MOS transistors MN21 and MN22, respectively, and W and L are the gate width and length of the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22, respectively; μ is the mobility, and C₀ is the gate oxide film capacitance per unit area; finally, V_(T) is the threshold voltage of the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22.

From formulas (1) to (4), a minimum voltage difference ΔV_(id) between the input voltages V_(i1) and V_(i2) at which the whole of the bias current Iss from the constant current source ISS flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN21 is indicated by the following formula (5): $\begin{matrix} {{\Delta\quad V_{id}} = {{V_{i\quad 1} - V_{i\quad 2}} = {{\left( {\sqrt{\frac{2I_{SS}}{\beta}} + V_{T}} \right) - V_{T}} = \sqrt{\frac{2I_{SS}}{\beta}}}}} & (5) \end{matrix}$

In the following, a common gate-source voltage VGS0 is defined as the gate-source voltages of the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22 for V_(i1)=V_(i2). Since the drain currents Id1 and Id2 through the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22 are each identical to half of the bias current Iss, the common gate-source voltage VGS0 is represented by the following formula (6): $\begin{matrix} {V_{{GS}\quad 0} = {\sqrt{\frac{I_{SS}}{\beta}} + V_{T}}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

From formulas (5) and (6), the minimum voltage difference ΔVid at which the differential transistor pair appropriately operates is represented as follows: ∴ΔV _(id)=√{square root over (2)}(V _(GS0) −V _(T))   (7)

Formula (7) presents the condition under which the bias current flows through only one MOS transistor within the differential transistor pair.

Thus, the bias current flows through only one transistor, not through the other transistor within the differential transistor pair, when the input voltage difference is equal to or more than the value defined by formula (7). This operation is the basic principle of comparator operation. The differential transistor pair exhibits the input-to-output characteristics shown in FIG. 3; the horizontal axis represents the voltage difference between the input voltages Vi1 and Vi2, and the vertical axis represents the drain currents through the N-channel MOS transistors MN21 and MN22.

It should be noted that the comparator operation may be sufficiently achieved when the voltage difference is equal to or below the value defined by formula (7), depending on a configuration of a next circuit stage connected to the differential transistor pair; this is because the differential transistor pair has a sufficient gain.

Next, the conventional differential amplifier circuit in FIG. 1 is then analyzed in the following. The circuit shown in FIG. 1 is responsive to the input voltage levels to operate in selected one of three operation modes: (1) an operation mode in which both the first and second differential transistor pairs DF11 and DF12 are activated, (2) an operation mode in which only the first differential transistor pair DF11 is activated; and (3) an operation mode in which only the second differential transistor pair DF12 is activated.

(1) In Case When Both of First and Second Differential Transistor Pairs DF11 and DF12 are Activated

Both of the first and second differential transistor pairs DF11 and DF12 are activated when the conditions defined by the following formula are satisfied. V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat)(I11)))>V _(in) >V _(GS(MN)) +V _(DS(sat)(I12))   (8) where Vin is any of the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ supplied to the inverting and non-inverting input terminals In⁻ and In⁺, respectively; V_(GS(MP)) is the gate-source voltage of the P-channel MOS transistors MP11 or MP12, and V_(GS(MN)) is the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor MN11 or MN12; V_(DS(sat)(I11)) is a drain-source voltage at saturation of a P-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the current source I11; and V_(DS(sat)(I12)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of an N-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the current source I12. It should be noted that a drain-source voltage at saturation of a MOS transistor is a voltage barely enough for the MOS transistor to operate in a pentode region.

(1-a) Operation for Vin⁻>Vin⁺

First, a description is given for a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is larger than the voltage ΔVid, defined by formula (7). It should be noted that the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ are defined as the voltages applied to the inverting input terminals In⁻ and In⁺, respectively. In this case, the differential amplifier circuit performs voltage comparator operation, and thus the bias current I1 flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 within the differential transistor pair DF11; the current through the first P-channel MOS transistor MP11 is nil. Correspondingly, the bias current I2 flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN11 within the differential transistor pair DF12, and the current through the N-channel MOS transistor MN12 is nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. The current mirror circuit CM13 develops an output current having a level identical to that of the bias current I₂, since the N-channel MOS transistor MN11 allows the bias current I₂ to be drawn from the input of the current mirror circuit CM13; it should be noted that the circle attached to each of the blocks referred to as each current mirror circuit represents the input terminal. The second current mirror circuit CM12 receives an input current which is the drain current I1 of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP12 and the output current I2 of the third current mirror circuit CM13 added together. The current mirror circuit CM12 is designed to have a mirror ratio of k; that is, the current mirror circuit CM12 develops an output current having a current level of k times of that of the input current inputted thereto. Therefore, the output current I_(O(CM12)) of the current mirror circuit CM12 is represented by the following formula: I _(O(CM12)) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (9)

On the other hand, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM14 is nil, since the current through the N-channel MOS transistor MN12 is nil. This results in that the output current of the current mirror circuit CM14 is set nil. Additionally, the current mirror circuit CM11 receives an input current which is the output current of the current mirror circuit CM14 and the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 added together. The output current of the current mirror circuit CM14 and the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 are both nil, and therefore the input current of the current mirror circuit CM11 is also nil. Accordingly, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM11 is set nil. Since the output current of the current mirror circuit CM11 is nil, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM15 is nil, and therefore the output current of the current mirror circuit CM15 is also nil.

As is understood from the foregoing, the differential amplifier circuit operates to draw a current from the output terminal OUT due to the operation of the current mirror circuit CM12. The current level I_(OUT) on the output terminal OUT is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (10) This results in that the voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled down to the low level (GND).

(1-b) Operation for Vin⁻<Vin⁺

Next, a description is given for a case where the input voltage Vin⁺ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁻, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁺ and Vin⁻ is equal to or above the value defined by Formula (7). In this case, the differential amplifier circuit performs the comparator circuit operation, and therefore the bias current I₁ flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 within the differential transistor pair DF11, and the current through the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 is set nil. Correspondingly, the bias current I₂ flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN12 within the differential transistor pair DF12, and the current through the N-channel MOS transistor MN11 is set nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. The current mirror circuit CM14 develops an output current having a level identical to that of the bias current I₂, since the N-channel MOS transistor MN12 allows the bias current I₂ to be drawn from the input of the current mirror circuit CM14. The current mirror circuit CM11 receives an input current which is the drain current I1 of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 and the output current I2 of the current mirror circuit CM14 added together Therefore, the output current I_(O(CM11)) of the current mirror circuit CM11 is represented by the following formula: I _(O(CM11)) =I ₁ +I ₂   (11)

The output of the current mirror circuit CM11 is connected with the input of the current mirror circuit CM15, and therefore the input current of the current mirror circuit CM15 is (I₁+I₂). The current mirror circuit CM15 is designed to have a mirror ratio of k, that is, the current mirror circuit CM15 develops an output current having a current level of k times of that of the input current inputted thereto. Therefore, the output current I_(O(CM15)) of the current mirror circuit CM15 is represented by the following formula: I _(O(CM15)) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (12)

On the other hand, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM13 is nil, since the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN11 is set nil. Therefore, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM13 is also set nil. The current mirror circuit CM12 receives an input current which is the output current of the current mirror circuit CM13 and the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 added together. Since these currents are both nil, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM12 is nil, and the output current thereof is also set nil.

From the foregoing, the differential amplifier circuit operates to supply a current from the output terminal OUT due to the operation of the current mirror circuit CM15. The current I_(OUT) developed on the output terminal OUT is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (13) This results in that the voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled up to the high level (V_(DD)).

In summary, the differential amplifier circuit operates to draw or supply a current through the output terminal I_(OUT) in response to the voltage level difference between the inverting input terminal In⁻ and the non-inverting input terminal In⁺, when both the first differential transistor pairs DF11 and DF12 are activated. The current level on the output terminal OUT is represented by formulas (10) and (13).

(2) In Case Where Only First Differential Transistor Pair DF11 is Activated

Only the first differential transistor pair DF11 is activated when the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ satisfy conditions defined by the following formulas: 0<V _(in) <V _(GS(MN)) +V _(DS(Sat)(I12))   (14) where V_(GS(MN)) is the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOS transistors MN11 or MN12, and V_(DS(sat)(I12)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the N-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the current source I12.

In such input voltage range, a sufficient drain-source voltage is not established across the MOS transistor within the constant current source I12, and therefore the bias current I2 is set nil. As a result, the differential transistor pair DF12 is deactivated.

(2-a) Operation for Vin⁻>Vin⁺

First, a description is given for a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the voltage difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ are equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7). Under these conditions, the bias current I1 flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 within the differential transistor pair DF11, and therefore the current through the first P-channel MOS transistor MP11 is nil. Additionally, the bias current I2 through the differential transistor pair DF12 is nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows: No electric current flows through the current mirror circuits CM13 and CM14, since the bias current I2 is nil. The input current of the current mirror circuit CM11 is set nil, since the output current of the current mirror circuit CM14 and the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 are nil. Therefore, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM11, which is identical to the input current of the current mirror circuit CM15, is also set nil. Because the input current of the current mirror circuit CM15 is nil, the output current thereof is also set nil.

The current mirror circuit CM12, on the other hand, receives the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 within the differential transistor pair DF11, while the output current of the current mirror circuit CM13 is nil. That is, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM12 is identical to the drain current I1 of the P-channel MOS transistor MP12, and therefore the current mirror circuit CM12 develops an output current having a current level of k times of that the input current. Accordingly, the differential amplifier circuit operates to draw a current from the output terminal OUT due to the operation of the current mirror circuit CM12. The current level I_(OUT) on the output terminal OUT is equal to k·I₁, and the output voltage on the output terminal OUT is pulled down to the low level (GND).

(2-b) Operation for Vin⁻<Vin⁺)

Next, a description is given for a case where the voltage Vin⁺ is higher than the voltage Vin⁻, and the voltage difference between the voltages Vin⁺ and Vin⁻ is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference defined by formula (7). Under these conditions, the bias current I1 flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 within the differential transistor pair DF11, and the current through the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 is nil. Additionally, the bias current I2 of the differential transistor pair DF12 is nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows: No electric current flows through the current mirror circuits CM13 and CM14, since the bias current I2 of the differential transistor pair DF12 is nil. Since the output current of the current mirror circuit CM13 and the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP12 are both nil, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM12 is also nil, and the output current of the current mirror circuit CM12 is set nil.

The current mirror circuit CM11, on the other hand, receives the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11 within the differential transistor pair DF11, while the output current of the current mirror circuit CM14 is nil. That is, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM11 is identical to the drain current I1 of the P-channel MOS transistor MP11, and the current mirror circuit CM11 develops an output current having a current level identical to that of the input current I1, which is to be supplied to the input of the current mirror circuit CM15.

The current mirror circuit CM15 receives the output current of the current mirror circuit CM11 on the input, and therefore develops an output current having a current level of k times of that of the input current inputted thereto. The differential amplifier circuit supplies a current from the output terminal OUT due to the operation of the current mirror circuit CM15. The current level I_(OUT) on the output terminal OUT is equal to k·I₁. This results in that the voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled up to the high level (V_(DD)).

In summary, the differential amplifier circuit operates to draw or supply a current through the output terminal OUT in response to the input voltage difference between the inverting input terminal In⁻ and the non-inverting input terminal In⁺. The current level on the output terminal OUT is represented by the following formula in the both cases: I_(OUT)=kI₁   (15) (3) In Case Where Only the Second Differential Transistor Pair DF12 is Activated

Only the second differential transistor pair DF12 is activated in a case where the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ satisfy conditions defined by the following formulas: V _(DD) >V _(in) >V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat)(I11)))   (16) where V_(GS(MP)) is the gate-source voltage of the P-channel MOS transistors MP11 or MP12, and V_(DS(sat)(I11)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the current source I11.

In such input voltage ranges, a sufficient drain-source voltage is not established across the MOS transistor within the constant current source I12, and therefore the bias current I2 is set nil. As a result, the differential transistor pair DF11 is deactivated.

The current level on the output terminal OUT is correspondingly obtained through the same analysis as the forgoing, and the current level I_(OUT) on the output terminal OUT is represented by the following formula in any case where the differential amplifier circuit operates to draw or supply a current through the output terminal: I_(OUT)=kI₂   (17)

The above-described analysis proves that the drive capability of the differential amplifier circuit directly depends on the bias currents fed to the differential transistor pair; increasing the drive capability requires increasing the bias currents. Additionally, the drive current developed on the output terminal is used for charging or discharging the load capacitance connected with the output terminal OUT of the differential amplifier circuit. Therefore, the operation speed of the differential amplifier circuit depends on the bias currents. In other words, enhancing the operation speed of the differential amplifier circuit requires

Next, power consumption of the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 1 is analyzed in the following.

When the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ are equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the power source V_(DD) provides the constant current source I11 with the bias current having a current level of I₁, and also provides the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM13 with a current having a current value of 2·I2. Therefore, the total static power consumption P_((Total)) is represented by the following formula, if the current through the output terminal OUT is ignored: P _((Total)) =V _(DD)(I ₁+2I ₂)   (18)

On the other hand, when the input voltage Vin⁻ is lower than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the power source V_(DD) provides the constant current source I11 with the bias current having the current level of I1, the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM14 with a current having the current level of 2·I2, and the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM15 with a current having the current level of I1+I2. Therefore, the total static power consumption P_((Total)) is represented by the following formula, if the current through the output terminal OUT is ignored: P _((Total)) =V _(DD)(2I ₁+3I ₂)   (19)

The conventional differential amplifier shown in FIG. 1 suffers from various drawbacks. Firstly, enhancing the operating speed requires increasing the bias currents developed by the constant current sources I11 and I12.

Additionally, the circuit architecture of the conventional differential amplifier is complicated; for example, two sets of differential transistors pairs DF11 and DF12 within the conventional differential amplifier necessitates performing an increased number of current mirroring steps.

Furthermore, an increased number of the current mirror circuits develop output currents in response to the bias currents distributed by the constant current sources I11 and I12, and this undesirably increases the power consumption.

Additionally, there are different numbers of transistors along a signal path from the differential transistor pair DF11 to the output terminal OUT, and along another signal path from the differential transistor pair DF12 to the output terminal OUT. That is, the signal path from the differential transistor pair DF12 requires additional one current mirroring step by using the current mirror circuits CM13 or CM14 to develop the output current to be added to the output current associated with the differential transistor pair DF11. In other words, the signal path from the differential transistor pair DF12 to the output terminal OUT is long compared to that from the differential transistor pair DF11. This implies that the conventional differential amplifier circuit exhibits different characteristics in the cases where only the differential transistor pair DF11 is activated and where only the differential transistor pair DF12 is activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the present invention, a voltage comparator circuit is composed of a differential amplifier circuit receiving a pair of input signals to develop an output signal on an output terminal, and a waveform shaping circuit achieving waveform shaping of the output signal received from the differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit includes: a first differential transistor pair responsive to the pair of input signals to output first and second output currents; a second differential transistor pair complementary to the first differential transistor pair, and responsive to the pair of input signals to output third and fourth output currents; a first current mirror circuit developing a first internal current in response to the first output current; a third current mirror circuit complementary to the first current mirror circuit and developing a third internal current in response to the third output current; a second current mirror circuit developing a second internal current in response to the third output current and the third internal current; and a fourth current mirror circuit complementary to the first current mirror circuit and developing a fourth internal current in response to the fourth output current and the first internal current. A resultant current which is said second and fourth currents added together is drawn from or supplied to the output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit.

In the voltage comparator circuit thus constructed, the number of circuit elements along a first signal path from the first differential transistor pair to the output terminal is allowed to be identical to that along a second signal path from the second differential transistor pair to the output terminal. Such architecture effectively improves circuit symmetry, and thereby enhances the performance of the voltage comparator circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanied drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional differential amplifier circuit;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a differential amplifier stage;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating input-to-output characteristics of the differential amplifier stage shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a voltage comparator circuit incorporating a differential amplifier circuit in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a circuit structure example of a CMOS inverter;

FIG. 6 illustrates a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary circuit structure of a differential amplifier circuit according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate specific circuit structures of current mirror circuits in one embodiment;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate other specific circuit structures of current mirror circuits in one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit structure of the differential amplifier circuit according to the present invention in the case where the differential amplifier circuit incorporates the current mirror circuits shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit structure of the differential amplifier circuit according to the present invention in the case where the differential amplifier circuit incorporates the current mirror circuits shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B; and

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating waveforms of input and output voltages obtained a circuit simulation of voltage comparator circuit according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be now described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art would recognize that many alternative embodiments can be accomplished using the teachings of the present invention and that the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated for explanatory purposed.

The design of the voltage comparator circuit according to the present invention is based on the analysis of the conventional differential amplifier circuit. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a voltage comparator circuit is composed of a differential amplifier circuit 40 and a set of CMOS inverters 41 to 43. The CMOS inverters 41 to 43 are serially-connected to the output of the differential amplifier circuit 40. The serially-connected CMOS inverters 41 to 43 are used for waveform shaping. The CMOS inverter 43 functions as an output stage of the voltage comparator circuit.

An exemplary circuit configuration of the CMOS inverters 41 to 43 is shown in FIG. 5. With reference to FIG. 5, the CMOS inverters 41 to 43 are each provided with an N-channel MOS transistor MN51 and a P-channel MOS transistor MP51. The gates of the N-channel MOS transistor MN51 and the P-channel MOS transistor MP51 are commonly connected to the input terminal, and the drains thereof are commonly connected to the output terminal. The source of the P-channel MOS transistor MP51 is connected to a power source V_(DD) (or a V_(DD) terminal), and the source of the N-channel MOS transistor MN51 is connected to an earth terminal V_(SS) (or a V_(SS) terminal).

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit structure of the differential amplifier circuit 40 according to the present invention. The differential amplifier circuit 40 is provided with a first differential transistor pair DF61 having P-channel MOS transistors MP61 and MP62; a second differential transistor pair DF62 having N-channel MOS transistors MN61 and MN62; first to fourth current mirror circuits CM61 to CM64; and constant current sources I61 and I62.

The current mirror circuit CM61 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP61 within the differential transistor pair DF61, a common terminal connected to the earth terminal (or the V_(SS) terminal), and an output terminal connected to the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM64.

The current mirror circuit CM62 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 of the differential transistor pair DF61, a common terminal connected to the negative power source VSS (GND), and an output terminal connected to the output terminal OUT of the differential amplifier.

The current mirror circuit CM63 has an input terminal connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 of the differential transistor pair DF62; a common terminal connected to the power supply terminal (or the V_(DD) terminal); and an output terminal connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and also to the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM62.

The current mirror circuit CM64 has an input terminal connected to the output of the current mirror circuit CM61 and also to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 of the differential transistor pair DF62; a common terminal connected to the power supply terminal; and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM62, and also to the output terminal OUT of the differential amplifier circuit.

The constant current source I61 is connected between the V_(DD) terminal and the commonly-connected sources of the P-channel MOS transistors MP61 and MP62. On the other hand, the constant current source I62 is connected between the V_(SS) terminal and the commonly-connected sources of the N-channel MOS transistors MN61 and MN62.

In the differential amplifier circuit, the gates of the P-channel MOS transistor MP61 and the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 are commonly connected to an inverting input terminal In⁻, and the gates of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 are commonly connected to a non-inverting input terminal In⁺. The differential amplifier circuit adopts the circuit architecture incorporating two complementary differential transistor pairs, and thereby enlarges the allowable input voltage range approximately between the voltage levels V_(SS) and V_(DD).

The current mirror circuits CM61 and CM62 provide current mirroring for the respective drain outputs of the differential transistor pair DF61. Correspondingly, the current mirror circuits CM63 and CM64 provide current mirroring for the respective drain outputs of the differential transistor pair DF62. The output of the current mirror circuit CM61 is connected to the input of the current mirror circuit CM64. The output of the current mirror circuit CM63 is connected to the input of the current mirror circuit CM62. The outputs of the current mirror circuits CM62 and CM64 are commonly connected to the output terminal OUT.

The current mirror circuits CM62 and CM64 are designed to have a mirror ratio of k (>1); the ratio of the input current to the output current is 1:k within the current mirror circuits CM62 and CM64. Setting the mirror ratio k to a value larger than one effectively improves the drive capability of the differential amplifier circuit. In addition, the circuit architecture effectively improves symmetry of the circuit characteristics, in which the number of circuit stages along the signal path associated with the P-channel differential transistor pair is the same as that associated with the P-channel differential transistor pair is same.

Operation of the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 6 is described below. The circuit shown in FIG. 6 adopts the rail-to-rail differential amplifier architecture. The differential amplifier circuit in this embodiment operates differently depending on the voltage levels of the input voltages, especially, in terms of operations of the constant current sources I61 and I62.

In order to activate the constant current source I61, it is necessary to establish a sufficient drain-source voltage across a P-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the constant current source I61. In order to achieve this, the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ of the inverting and non-inverting input terminals In⁻ and In⁺ are required to satisfy the following formula: Vin<V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat)(I61))), where Vin is any of the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺, V_(DS(sat)(I61)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor within the constant current source I61, and V_(GS(MP)) is the gate-source voltage of the P-channel MOS transistors MP61 or MP62.

Correspondingly, in order to activate the constant current source I62, it is necessary to establish a sufficient drain-source voltage across an N-channel MOS transistor (not shown) within the constant current source I62. The input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ of the inverting and non-inverting input terminals In⁻ and In⁺ are required to satisfy the following formula: Vin>V _(GS(MN61)) +V _(DS(sat)(I62)), where V_(DS(sat)(I62)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the N-channel MOS transistor within the constant current source I62, and V_(GS(MN)) is the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOS transistors MN61 or MN62.

In other words, both of the differential transistor pairs DF61 and DF62 are activated when it holds: V _(GS(MN)) +V _(DS(sat)(I62)) <Vin⁻ <V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat)(I61))).

Additionally, only the differential transistor pair DF62 is activated with the differential transistor pair DF61 deactivated, when it holds: Vin>V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP61)) +V _(DS(sat)(I61))).

Finally, only the differential transistor pair DF61 is activated with the differential transistor pair DF62 deactivated, when it holds: Vin<V _(GS(MN)) +V _(DS(sat)(I62)). (1) In Case Where Both the First and Second Differential Transistor Pairs DF61 and DF62 are Activated

A description of the operation of the differential amplifier circuit in this embodiment is given for a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the voltage difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7) with both of the differential transistor pairs DF61 and Df62 activated.

In this case, the bias current I1 flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 within the first differential transistor pair DF61, and the current through the P-channel MOS transistor MP61 is set nil. On the other hand, the bias current I2 flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 within the second differential transistor pair DF62

, and the current through the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 is set nil.

In this operation, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. The output current of the current mirror circuit CM61 is set nil since the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM61 is connected with the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP61, and the drain current thereof is nil. The input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM63 is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN61. The drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 is set to I2, and therefore an output current I_(OUT(CM63)) of the current mirror circuit CM63 is also set to I2.

The input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM62 is connected with the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and also with the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM63. Since the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 is I1 and the output current of the current mirror circuit CM63 is I2, the current mirror circuit CM62 receives a current (I1+I2) on the input terminal thereof. In addition, since the mirror ratio of the current mirror circuit CM62 is k, the output current I_(OUT(CM62)) of the current mirror circuit CM62 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM62)) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (20) In other words, the current mirror circuit CM62 draws the output current I_(OUT(CM62)) through the output terminal thereof, and the voltage level on the output terminal is pulled down to the low level, namely, to the potential level V_(SS).

The input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM64 is connected with the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and also with the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM61. Since the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and the output current of the current mirror circuit CM61 are both nil, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM64 is also nil.

Therefore, the differential amplifier circuit in this embodiment draws a current having a current level of k·(I1+I2) from the output terminal OUT, and the voltage level on the output terminal is pulled down to the low level, namely, to the potential level V_(SS).

Next, a description is made for a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is lower than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7).

In this case, the bias current I1 flows only through the P-channel MOS transistor MP61 within the first differential transistor pair DF61, and the current through the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 is set nil. On the other hand, the bias current I2 flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 within the second differential transistor pair DF62, and the current through the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 is set nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. The drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP61 is I1, and the drain thereof is connected with the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM61. Therefore, the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 is also I1.

The drain current of the current mirror circuit CM63 is nil, and the drain thereof is connected with the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM63. Therefore, the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 is also nil. The second current mirror circuit CM62 receives an input current which is the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 added together. Since these currents are both nil, the input current and the output current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 are both nil.

The input terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62, and also to the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61. The fourth current mirror circuit CM64 receives an input current having a current level of (I2+I1), which is the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 added together. Since the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 has a mirror ratio of k, an output current I_(OUT(CM64)) of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM64)) =k(I ₁ +I ₂)   (21)

Therefore, the differential amplifier circuit supplies the current I_(OUT)(=k·(I2+I1)) from the output terminal OUT thereof, and the voltage level of the output terminal OUT is pulled up to the high level, namely, to the power supply level VDD.

As is understood from formulas (20) and (21), the current level of the pull-down current is identical to that of the pull-up current on the output terminal OUT. Therefore, rising and falling edges are shaped in a symmetry manner even when the output terminal is connected with an increased load capacitance. This advantageously helps the voltage comparator to develop a digital signal having a duty ratio of 50% through waveform shaping.

The above-mentioned is the description for the case where both the differential transistor pairs DF61 and DF62 are activated. Decrease in a common-mode signal voltage of the input differential signals results in that the differential transistor pair DF62, which consists of the N-channel transistors, is deactivated. Increase in the common-mode signal voltage of the input differential signals, on the other hand, the differential transistor pair DF61, which consists of the P-channel transistors, is deactivated. Operations in these respective cases are described in the following.

(2) In Case Where Only the First Differential Transistor Pair DF61 is Activated

First, a description is made of a case where the common-mode signal voltage of the input differential signals is decreased so that only the first differential transistor pair DF61 is activated with the second differential transistor pair DF62 deactivated.

Referring to FIG. 6, the constant current source I62, which provides the bias current I2 for the N-channel differential transistor pair DF62, is composed of an N-channel MOS transistor. The bias current I2 is controlled to a desired current level by controlling the voltage level on the gate of this N-channel MOS transistor.

In this case, the minimum input voltage Vin(min) at which the N-channel differential transistor pair DF62 is activated is represented by the following formula: V _(in(min.)) =V _(GS(MN)) +V _(DS(sat)(I62))   (22) Where V_(GS(MN)) is the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 or MN62, and V_(DS(sat)(I62)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation point of the N-channel MOS transistor within the constant current source I62. The drain-source voltage at saturation of the N-channel MOS transistor is defined as a voltage barely enough to operate in the pentode region.

The N-channel differential transistor pair DF62 is deactivated when any of the input voltages is equal to or below Vin(min); in this case only the P-channel differential transistor pair DF61 is activated.

First, a description is made of a case where the input voltage Vin⁻, which is the input voltage of the inverting input terminal In⁻, is higher than that of the input voltage Vin⁺, which is the input voltage of the non-inverting input terminal In⁺, with only the P-channel differential transistor pair DF61 activated In this case, the bias current I1 flows only through the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 within the first differential transistor pair DF61, and the current through the first P-channel MOS transistor MP61 is set nil. On the other hand, the second differential transistor pair DF62 is deactivated, and therefore the drain currents of the first and second N-channel MOS transistors MN61 and MN62 are both set nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. Since the second differential transistor pair DF62 is deactivated, the input current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 connected to the second differential transistor pair DF62 is nil. Therefore, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM63 is nil. The input current of the current mirror circuit CM64 is also nil, because the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 is nil.

The input current of the first current mirror circuit CM61, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP61, is nil, and therefore the output current thereof is consequently nil. Therefore, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM64, which is output current of the current mirror circuit 61 and the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 added together, is nil. Accordingly, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM64 is also set nil.

The input current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is identical to the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62, because the input terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM61 is connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and also to the output terminal of the third current mirror circuit CM63, and the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 is nil. Therefore, the output current I_(OUT(CM62)) of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM62)) =kI ₁   (23)

In other words, the differential amplifier circuit 40 draws the current I_(OUT)(=k·I1) from the output terminal OUT. The voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled down to the low level, that is, to the earth level V_(SS).

Next, a description is made of a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is lower than the input voltage Vin⁺. When the difference of the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is larger than the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the bias current I1 flows only through the first P-channel MOS transistor MP61 within the first differential transistor pair DF61, and the current through the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 is nil. On the other hand, the second differential transistor pair DF62 is deactivated, and thus the drain currents of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN61 and the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 are set nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. Since the second differential transistor pair DF62 is deactivated, the input current of the third current mirror circuit CM63, having the input terminal connected to the second differential transistor pair DF62, is set nil. Therefore, the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 is nil. Also, the input current of the current mirror circuit CM64 is nil, because the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM64 is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN62 with the drain current thereof being nil.

The input current of the first current mirror circuit CM61, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP61, has a current level of I1, being identical to the drain current of the P-channel MOS transistor MP61, and the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 consequently has a current level of I1.

The input current of the second current mirror circuit CM62, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and the output terminal of the third current mirror circuit CM63, is set nil, since both of the drain current of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 and the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 are nil. Therefore, the output current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is also set nil.

The input current of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61, has a current level of I1, since the drain current of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 is nil and the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 has a current level of I1. Additionally, the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 has a mirror ratio of k. Therefore, the output current I_(OUT(CM64)) of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM64)) =kI ₁   (24)

In this operation, the differential amplifier circuit 40 supplies the current I_(OUT) (=k·I1) from the output terminal OUT. The voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled up to the high level, that is, to the power supply level V_(DD).

As is understood from formulas (23) and (24), the current level of the pull-down current is identical to that of the pull-up current on the output terminal OUT. Therefore, rising and falling edges are shaped in a symmetry manner even when the output terminal is connected with an increased load capacitance. This advantageously helps the voltage comparator to develop a digital signal having a duty ratio of 50% through waveform shaping.

(3) In Case Where Only the Second Differential Transistor Pair DF62 is Activated

Next, a description is made of a case where the common-mode signal voltage of the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is increased so that the first differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated with only the second differential transistor pair DF62 activated.

Referring to FIG. 6, the constant current source I61, which provides the bias current I1 for the P-channel differential transistor pair DF61, is composed of a P-channel MOS transistor. The bias current I1 is controlled to a desired current level by controlling the voltage level on the gate of this P-channel MOS transistor.

In this case, a maximum input voltage Vin(max) at which the P-channel differential transistor pair DF61 is activated is represented by the following formula: V _(in(max.)) =V _(DD)−(V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat)(I61)))   (25) where V_(GS(MP)) is the gate-source voltage of the P-channel MOS transistors MP61 or MP62, and V_(DS(sat)(I61)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor within the constant current source I61. The drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor is defined as a voltage barely enough to operate in the pentode region.

The P-channel differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated when any of the input voltages is equal to or above Vin(max); in this case only the N-channel differential transistor pair DF62 is activated.

Firstly, a description is made of a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher the input voltage Vin⁺ with only the N-channel differential transistor pair DF62 activated. In this case, the bias current I2 flows only through the N-channel MOS transistor MN61 within the second differential transistor pair DF62, and the current through the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 is set nil. On the other hand, the first differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated, and therefore the drain currents of the first P-channel MOS transistor MP61 and the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 are nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. Since the first differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated, the input current of the first current mirror circuit CM61, having the input terminal connected to the first differential transistor pair DF61, is nil. Therefore, the output current of the current mirror circuit CM61 is set nil. The input current of the third current mirror circuit CM63, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN1, has a current level of I2, since the drain current of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN1 has a current level of I2. Therefore, the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 also has a current level of I2.

The input terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is connected to the output terminal of the third current mirror circuit CM63, and also to the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62. The P-channel differential transistor pair MP61 is deactivated, and thus the drain current of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 is nil. Therefore, the input current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 has a current level of I2, and the current level I_(OUT(CM62)) of the output current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM62)) =kI ₂   (26)

The input current of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61, is nil, because the drain current of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 and the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 are both nil. Therefore, the output current of the fourth current mirror circuit is also nil.

Accordingly, the differential amplifier circuit 40 draws the output current I_(OUT)(=k·I2) from the output terminal OUT, and the voltage level on the output terminal OUT is consequently pulled down to the low level, that is, to the earth level V_(SS).

Next, a description is made of a case where the input voltage Vin⁻ is lower than the input voltage Vin⁺ with only the second differential transistor pair DF62 activated. When the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is larger than the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the bias current I2 flows only through the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 within the second differential transistor pair DF62, and the current through the first N-channel MOS transistor MN61 is set nil. On the other hand, the first differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated, and therefore the drain currents of both of the first and second P-channel MOS transistors MP61 and MP62 are nil.

In this case, each current mirror circuit operates as follows. Since the first differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated, the input current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 connected to the first differential transistor pair DF61 is nil. Therefore, the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 is nil.

Additionally, the input current of the third current mirror circuit CM63, having the input terminal connected to the drain of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN61, is set nil, since the drain current of the first N-channel MOS transistor MN61 is nil. Therefore, the output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 is also set nil.

The input terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is connected with the output terminal of the third current mirror circuit CM63 and the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62. Since the P-channel differential transistor pair DF61 is deactivated, the drain current of the second P-channel MOS transistor MP62 is nil. The output current of the third current mirror circuit CM63 is also nil. Therefore, the input current of the second current mirror circuit CM62 is nil, and the output current I_(OUT(CM62)) thereof is consequently nil.

The input terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 is connected to the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61 and the drain of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62. Since the output current of the first current mirror circuit CM61 is nil and the drain current of the second N-channel MOS transistor MN62 has a current level of I2, the input current of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 has a current level of I2. Additionally, the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 has a mirror ratio of k. Therefore, the output current I_(OUT(CM64)) of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT(CM64)) =kI ₂   (27)

In other words, the differential amplifier circuit 40 supplies the current I_(OUT) (=k·I2) from the output terminal OUT. The voltage level on the output terminal OUT is pulled up to the high level, that is, to the power supply level V_(DD).

As is understood from formulas (26) and (27), the current level of the pull-down current is identical to that of the pull-up current on the output terminal OUT. Therefore, rising and falling edges are shaped in a symmetry manner even when the output terminal is connected with an increased load capacitance. This advantageously helps the voltage comparator to develop a digital signal having a duty ratio of 50% through waveform shaping.

Thus, the current level of the pull-down current is identical to that of the pull-up current, even when the operations of the first differential transistor pair DF61 and the second differential transistor pair DF62 are switched. This allows the output digital signal to have a duty ratio of 50% after the waveform shaping due to the waveform symmetry.

A description is then given of analysis of the power consumption of the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6. The analysis addresses a case where both of the differential transistor pairs DF61 and DF62 are activated.

When the input voltage Vin⁻ is higher than the input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference therebetween is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the current through the current mirror circuit CM64 is nil. The power supply V_(DD) provides the first constant current source I61 with a current having a current level of I1, and the common terminal of the third current mirror circuit CM63 with a current having a current level of 2I2. Consequently, the total static power consumption P_((Total)) is represented by the following formula: P _((Total)) =V _(DD)(I ₁+2I ₂)   (28) It should be noted that the current through the output terminal OUT is ignored in this analysis.

On the other hand, when the input voltage Vin⁻ is lower than input voltage Vin⁺, and the difference between the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ is equal to or above the minimum voltage difference ΔVid defined by formula (7), the current through the third current mirror circuit CM63 is nil. The power supply V_(DD) provides the first constant current source I61 with a current having a current level of I1, and the input terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM4 with a current having a current level of I1+I2. It should be noted that the current through the output terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM4 is the current flowing outside from the output terminal OUT. Consequently, the total static power consumption P_((Total)) is indicated by the following formula: P _((Total)) =V _(DD)(2I ₁ +I ₂)   (29) It should be noted that the current through the output terminal OUT is ignored in this analysis.

As is understood from the comparison of the formulas (28) and (29) with the formulas (18) and (19), the power consumption presented by formula (29) is lower than that presented by formula (19). In other words, the power consumption of the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6 is lower than that of the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 1.

Although the voltage comparator circuit is desired to develop a rectangular wave, the output signal of the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6 exhibits waveform distortion as the increase in the frequency. In this embodiment, therefore, a set of CMOS inverter circuit 41 to 43 is serially connected to the output of the differential amplifier circuit 40 as shown in FIG. 4. The serially-connected CMOS inverter circuits 41 to 43 provide waveform shaping to develop a rectangular wave. Specifically, the threshold level of the CMOS inverters 41 to 43 is set to approximately half of the VDD. When the level of the input of each inverter is lower than the threshold level, each inverter pulls up the output thereof to the high level (V_(DD)). When the level of the input of each inverter is higher than the threshold level, on the other hand, each inverter pulls down the output thereof to the low level (V_(SS)). Such operation achieves waveform shaping. The use of the multiple CMOS inverters is effective for achieve improved waveform shaping compared to a case where only one CMOS inverter is used for the waveform shaping.

The following is a description of the current mirror circuits incorporated within the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6. Shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are Widlar-type current mirror circuits. FIG. 7A illustrates a current mirror circuit CM7 a configured to draw a pair of input and output currents. The current mirror circuit CM7 a is provided with an N-channel MOS transistor MN71 and an N-channel MOS transistor MN72. The gates of the N-channel MOS transistors MN71 and MN72 are commonly connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN71. The drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN71 is connected the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM7 a. The sources of the N-channel MOS transistors MN71 and MN72 are commonly-connected to the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM7 a. The drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN72 is connected to the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM7 a.

FIG. 7B illustrates a current mirror circuit CM7 b configured to output a pair of input and output currents. The current mirror circuit CM7 b is provided with P-channel MOS transistors MP71 and MP72. The gates of the P-channel MOS transistors MP71 and MP72 are commonly connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP71. The drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP71 is connected to the input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM7 b. The sources of the P-channel MOS transistors MP71 and MP72 are commonly-connected to the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM7 b. The drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP72 is connected to the output terminal.

The mirror ratio k of the current mirror circuit CM7 a is dependent on the dimensions of the gate widths and lengths of the N-channel MOS transistors MN71 and MN72. When the gate width and length of the N-channel MOS transistor MN71 or the P-channel MOS transistor MP71 are WM1 and LM1, respectively, and the gate width and length of the N-channel MOS transistor MN72 are WM2 and LM2, respectively, the following formula holds: $\begin{matrix} {{\frac{W_{M\quad 1}}{L_{M\quad 1}}:\frac{W_{M\quad 2}}{L_{M\quad 2}}} = {1\text{:}k}} & (30) \end{matrix}$ The same applies for the current mirror circuit CM7 b.

In this time, a relation of the input and output currents I_(in) and I_(OUT) of the current mirror circuits CM7 a (or CM7 b) is given by the following formula: I_(OUT)=kI_(in)   (31)

This is based on the fact that a drain current I_(D) is proportional to W/L as is depicted by the formulas (2) to (4) which indicates a relation of the gate-source voltage VGS and the drain current ID of the MOS transistor. The ratios of the gate widths (W) to the gate lengths (L) of the MOS transistors are adjusted to achieve the desired mirror ratio k.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a specific circuit structure in which the current mirrors shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are incorporated as the current mirror circuits CM61 to CM64 within the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6. The association of circuit elements within the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 10 with those within the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 6 is as follows.

The first differential transistor pair DF61 in FIG. 6 corresponds to a differential transistor pair DF101 in FIG. 10, and the P-channel MOS transistors MP61 and MP62 within the differential transistor pair DF61 correspond to P-channel MOS transistors MP101 and MP102, respectively. The second differential transistor pair DF62 corresponds to a differential transistor pair Df102, and the N-channel MOS transistors MN61 and MN62 within the differential transistor pair DF62 correspond to N-channel MOS transistors MN101 and MN102, respectively.

The first current mirror circuit CM61 corresponds to a current mirror circuit CM101, and the input and output terminals of the first current mirror circuit CM61 correspond to the drains of N-channel MOS transistors MN103 and MN104, respectively. The second current mirror circuit CM62 corresponds to a current mirror circuit 102, and the input and output terminals of the second current mirror circuit CM62 correspond to the drains of N-channel MOS transistors MN105 and MN106, respectively. The third current mirror circuit CM63 corresponds to a current mirror circuit 103, and the input and output terminals of the third current mirror circuit CM63 correspond to the drains of P-channel MOS transistors MP 103 and MP 104, respectively. The fourth current mirror circuit CM64 corresponds to a current mirror circuit 104, and the input and output terminals correspond to the drains of the P-channel MOS transistors MP105 and MP106, respectively. The constant current sources I61 and I62 correspond to constant current sources I101 and I102, respectively.

Strictly speaking, the allowable input voltage range of the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 10 does not cover the entire voltage range between the earth level V_(SS) and the power supply level V_(DD) due to voltage drops across the respective current mirror circuits. That is, there are operation regions where the differential amplifier circuit does not operate in the vicinities of the earth level V_(SS) (GND) and the power supply level V_(DD). This implies that the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 10 does not achieve rail-to-rail operation in a strict sense.

For example, the allowed input voltage range in the vicinity of the earth level V_(SS) (GND) is represented by the following formula: V _(in) >V _((CM)) −V _(GS(MP)) +V _(DS(sat))   (32) where Vin is any of the input voltages of the input terminals In⁻ and In⁺, and V_((CM)) is the voltage drop across the current mirror circuit; V_(GS(MP)) is the gate-source voltage of the P-channel MOS transistor MP101 or MP102, and V_(DS(sat)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor MP101 or MP102. The drain-source voltage at saturation of the P-channel MOS transistor MP101 or MP102 is defined as a voltage barely enough to operate in the pentode region.

Inputting the input voltages that dissatisfy the requirement defined by formula (32) results in that desired characteristics is not obtained. The voltage drop V_((CM)) across the current mirror circuits in FIG. 7B is indicated by the following formula: V_((CM))=V_(GS)   (33) where V_(GS) is the gate-source voltage of the MOS transistor, represented by the following formula: $\begin{matrix} {{V_{GS} = {\sqrt{\frac{2I_{D}}{\beta}} + V_{T}}}{\beta = {\frac{W}{L}\mu\quad C_{0}}}} & (34) \end{matrix}$ where V_(T) is the threshold voltage of the MOS transistor, and I_(D) is the drain current.

The voltage drop V_((CM)) in formula (33) is identical to the gate-source voltage V_(GS) of the N-channel MOS transistor, and the voltage V_(GS(MP)) in formula (32) is identical to the gate-source voltage VGS of the P-channel MOS transistor. Therefore, formula (32) implies that the input voltage Vin may not be allowed to be decreased down to the earth level V_(SS) due to variations of the circuit elements. The same goes for the operation range in the vicinity of the power supply level V_(DD). That is, the input voltage Vin may not be allowed to be increased up to the power supply level V_(DD) due to variations of the circuit elements.

The current mirror circuit structures shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B effectively decrease the voltage drops V_((CM)) across the current mirror circuits, that is, effectively enlarges the allowable input voltage range compared with the current mirror circuit structures shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

The current mirror circuit structures shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are described in the following. FIG. 8A illustrates a structure of a current mirror circuit CM8 a configured to draw a pair of input and output currents. The current mirror circuit CM8 a is provided with N-channel MOS transistors MN81, MN82, and MN83, and a constant current source I8 a and a constant voltage source V8 a. The input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 a is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN81 and also to the source of the N-channel MOS transistor MN83. The drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN83 is connected to the gates of the N-channel MOS transistors MN81 and MN82, and also to the constant current source I8 a. The gate of the N-channel MOS transistor MN83 is connected to the constant voltage source V8 a, and is pull up to a voltage level of the voltage V₁ with respect to the common terminal. The drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN82 is connected to the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 a. The sources of the N-channel MOS transistors MN82 and MN81 are commonly-connected to the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 a.

FIG. 8B illustrates a current mirror circuit CM8 b configured to supply a pair of input and output currents. The current mirror circuit CM8 b is provided with P-channel MOS transistors MP81, MP82, and MP83, a constant current source I8 b, and a constant voltage source V8 b. The input terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 b is connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP81 and the source of the P-channel MOS transistor MP83. The drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP83 is connected to the gates of the P-channel MOS transistors MP81 and MP82, and the constant current source I8 b. The gate of the P-channel MOS transistor MP83 is connected to the constant voltage source V8 b, and is set to a voltage level lower by V₁ than the voltage level of the common terminal. The drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP82 is the output terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 b. The sources of the P-channel MOS transistors MP82 and MP81 are connected, and the connection point is the common terminal of the current mirror circuit CM8 b.

A description is made of the input-to-output characteristics of the current mirror circuits CM8 a/CM8 b in the following. The current Iin from the input terminal and the current I1 from the constant current source I8 a (or I8 b) flow through the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN81 or the P-channel MOS transistor MP81. Therefore, a drain current I_(D(M1)) of the N-channel MOS transistor MN81 or the P-channel MOS transistor MP81 is the currents Iin and I1 added together, and therefore the drain current I_(D(M1)) is represented by the following formula: I _(D(M1)) =I _(in) +I ₁   (35)

When dimensions of the N-channel MOS transistors MN81 and MN82 are designed as defined by formula (30), a relation of the input and output currents Iin and I_(OUT) of the current mirror circuits CM8 a and CM8 b is represented by the following formula: I _(OUT) =k(I _(in) +I ₁)   (36)

When the input current Iin is extremely larger than the constant current I1, the following formula holds: I_(OUT)≅kI_(in)   (37)

Formula (37) indicates that the current mirror circuits in FIG. 8A operate to exhibit a mirror ratio of k.

The current mirror circuit structures shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B effectively reduces the voltage drops thereacross compared to those of the current mirror circuits shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The voltage drops V_((CM)) across the current mirror circuits shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are represented by the following formula: V _((CM)) =V ₁ −V _(GS(M3))   (38) where V₁ is the voltage developed by the constant voltage source V8 a or V8 b, and V_(GS(M3)) is the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor MN83 or the P-channel MOS transistor MP83.

There is a limit to the reduction in the voltage drop V_((CM)) across the current mirror circuits due to the fact that the voltage V₁ is required to satisfy a certain requirement. Specifically, the voltage V₁ is required to satisfy a condition in which the N-channel MOS transistor MN81 or the P-channel MOS transistor MP81 operates in the pentode region. The condition is represented by the following formula: V _(DS(sat)(M1)) <V ₁ −V _(GS(M3))   (39) where V_(GS(M3)) is the gate-source voltage of the MOS transistors MN83 or MP83, and V_(DS(sat)(M1)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the MOS transistors MN81/MP81, which is defined as a voltage barely enough to operate in the pentode region.

Formula (39) describes a lower limit of the constant voltage source voltage V₁, and there is also an upper higher limit as well. An excessive increase in the constant voltage source voltage V₁ undesirably results in that the MOS transistors MN83 and MP83 enter a triode region, causing a problem that the MOS transistors MN83 and MP83 do not carry out desired operation. The condition defining the higher limit of the constant voltage source voltage V₁ is represented by the following formula: V _(DS(sat)(M3)) <V _(GS(M1))−(V ₁ −V _(GS(M3)))   (40) where V_(GS(M1)) is the gate-source voltage of the MOS transistor MN81 or MP81; V_(GS(M3)) is the gate-source voltage of the MOS transistor MN83 or MP83; and V_(DS(sat)(M3)) is the drain-source voltage at saturation of the MOS transistor MN83 or MP83, which is defined as a voltage barely enough to operate in the pentode region.

The voltage V₁ is required to be configured so as to meet the two requirements defined by formulas (39) and (40). When the voltage V₁ is configured to satisfy these requirements, the voltage drops V_((CM)) of the current mirror circuits may be decreased down to approximately 0.2 V. As a result, the input voltages Vin⁻ and Vin⁺ of the differential amplifier circuit are allowed to range approximately from the earth level V_(SS) to the power supply level V_(DD). In other words, the use of the current mirror circuits shown in FIG. 8 within the differential amplifier circuit 40 in FIG. 6 effectively expands the allowable input voltage range.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a specific circuit structure in which the current mirrors shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are incorporated as the current mirror circuits CM61 to CM64 within the differential amplifier circuit 40 shown in FIG. 6; the current mirror circuits shown in FIG. 8A are incorporated as the current mirror circuits CM61 and CM62 shown in FIG. 6, and the current mirror circuits shown in FIG. 8B are incorporated as the current mirror circuits CM63 and CM64. The association of circuit elements within the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 9 with those within the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 6 is as follows.

The first differential transistor pair DF61 in FIG. 6 corresponds to a differential transistor pair DF91 in FIG. 9, and the P-channel MOS transistors MP61 and MP62 forming the differential transistor pairs correspond to P-channel MOS transistors MP91 and MP92. The second differential transistor pair DF62 corresponds to a differential transistor pair DF92, and the N-channel MOS transistors MN61 and MN62 forming the differential transistor pairs correspond to N-channel MOS transistors MN91 and MN92. The constant current sources I61 and I62 correspond to constant current sources I91 and I92.

The first current mirror circuit CM61 corresponds to N-channel MOS transistors MN93, MN94 and MN 95, a constant current source I95, and a constant voltage source V91. The input terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61 corresponds to a connection point of the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN94 and the source of the N-channel MOS transistor MN95, and the output terminal of the first current mirror circuit CM61 corresponds to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN93. A correspondence with the current mirror circuit in FIG. 8A is as follows. The constant current source I95 and the constant voltage source V91 correspond to the constant current source I8 a and the constant voltage source V8 a in FIG. 8A, respectively. The N-channel MOS transistors MN94, MN93, and MN95 correspond to the N-channel MOS transistors MN81, MN82, and MN83 in FIG. 8A, respectively.

The second current mirror circuit CM62 corresponds to N-channel MOS transistors MN96, MN97, and MN98, a constant current source I96, and the constant voltage source V91. The constant voltage source V91 supplies a bias voltage, and is shared by the first and second current mirror circuits CM61 and CM62. The input terminal of the second current mirror circuit CM62 corresponds to a connection point of the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN96 and the source of the N-channel MOS transistor MN98, and the output terminal corresponds to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor MN97. The current from the third current mirror circuit is inputted through the N-channel MOS transistor MN98. A correspondence with the current mirror circuit in FIG. 8A is as follows. The constant current source I96 and the constant voltage source V91 correspond to the constant current source I8 a and the constant voltage source V8 a, respectively. The N-channel MOS transistors MN96, MN97, and MN98 correspond to the N-channel MOS transistors MN81, MN82, and MN83, respectively.

The third current mirror circuit CM63 corresponds to P-channel MOS transistors MP93, MP94, and MP95, a constant current source I93, and a constant voltage source V92. The input terminal corresponds to a connection point of the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP94 and the source of the P-channel MOS transistor MP95, and the output terminal corresponds to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP93. A correspondence with the current mirror circuit in FIG. 8B is as follows. The constant current source I93 and the constant voltage source V92 correspond to the constant current source I8 b and the constant voltage source V8 b in FIG. 8B, respectively. The P-channel MOS transistors MP94, MP93, and MP95 correspond to the P-channel MOS transistors MP81, MP82, and MP83 in FIG. 8B, respectively.

The fourth current mirror circuit CM64 corresponds to P-channel MOS transistors MP96, MP97, and MP98, a constant current source I94, and the constant voltage source V92. The constant voltage source V92 only supplies the bias, and is shared by the third and fourth current mirror circuits CM63 and CM64. The input terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 corresponds to a connection point of the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP96 and the source of the P-channel MOS transistor MP98, and the output terminal of the fourth current mirror circuit CM64 corresponds to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor MP97. The current from the first current mirror circuit is inputted through the P-channel MOS transistor MP98; the current flows from the P-channel MOS transistor MP98 toward the N-channel MOS transistor MN93. A correspondence with the current mirror circuit in FIG. 8B is as follows. The constant current source I94 and the constant voltage source V92 correspond to the constant current source I8 b and the constant voltage source V8 b in FIG. 8B, respectively. The P-channel MOS transistors MP96, MP97, and MP98 correspond to the P-channel MOS transistors MP81, MP82, and MP83 in FIG. 8B, respectively.

FIG. 11 illustrates simulated waveforms of the input voltages, the output signal of the differential amplifier circuit designed as mentioned above, and a resultant output signal developed by the serially-connected CMOS inverters.

As thus described, the voltage comparator circuit of the present invention is especially suitable for a high-speed differential interface circuit operating on a low power source voltage and exhibiting a wide allowable input voltage range. The use of the circuit according to the present invention makes it possible to realize a voltage comparator circuit that is low in the power consumption, wide in the allowable input voltage range, and is high in a speed, with a fewer number of elements.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, which may be modified and changed without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A circuit, comprising: first and second MOS transistors having commonly-connected gates and commonly-connected sources; a third MOS transistor having a drain connected to said commonly-connected gates of said first and second MOS transistors, and a source connected to a drain of said first MOS transistor, a gate of said third MOS transistor being connected to a constant voltage source; a constant current source connected to said drain of said third MOS transistor; a first terminal connected to said drain of said first MOS transistor and to said source of said third MOS transistor, to provide an input current for said circuit; a second terminal connected to said commonly-connected sources of said first and second MOS transistors, to provide a common reference for said circuit; and a third terminal connected to a drain of said second MOS transistor, to provide an output current of said circuit.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said input current has a current level extremely larger than a current level of said constant current source, and wherein said output current comprises a current level k times a current level of said input current, k being larger than one.
 3. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said first and second MOS transistors comprise dimensions defined by: (W _(M1) /L _(M1)):(W _(M2) /L _(M2))=1:k, where W_(M1) comprises a gate width of said first MOS transistor, where L_(M1) comprises a gate length of said first MOS transistor, where W_(M2) comprises a gate width of said second MOS transistor, and where L_(M2) comprises a gate length of said second MOS transistor.
 4. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said constant voltage source is set to a voltage level lower than a voltage level of said common terminal.
 5. The circuit according to claim 4, wherein said constant voltage source is set to a voltage level such that said first MOS transistor operates in a pentode region.
 6. The circuit according to claim 5, wherein said constant voltage source is set to a voltage level defined by: V _(DS(sat)(M1)) <V ₁ −V _(GS(M3)), where V_(DS(sat)(M1)) comprises a drain-source voltage at a saturation of said first MOS transistor, said saturation being a minimum voltage to operate in a pentode region; where V₁ comprises a voltage level of said constant voltage source, and where V_(GS(M3)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said third MOS transistor.
 7. The circuit according to claim 4, wherein said constant voltage source is set to a voltage level defined by: V _(DS(sat)(M3)) <V _(GS(M1))−(V ₁ −V _(GS(M3))), where V_(DS(sat)(M3)) comprises a drain-source voltage at a saturation of said third MOS transistor, said saturation being a minimum voltage to operate in a pentode region, where V_(GS(M1)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said first MOS transistor, where V₁ comprises a voltage level of said constant voltage source, and where V_(GS(M3)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said third MOS transistor.
 8. The circuit according to claim 4, wherein said constant voltage source is set to a voltage level within limits defined by: V _(DS(sat)(M1)) <V ₁ −V _(GS(M3)) and V _(DS(sat)(M3)) <V _(GS(M1))−(V ₁ −V _(GS(M3))), where V_(DS(sat)(M1)) comprises a drain-source voltage at saturation of said first MOS transistor, said saturation being a minimum voltage to operate in a pentode region; where V_(DS(sat)(M3)) comprises a drain-source voltage at saturation of said third MOS transistor, said saturation being a minimum voltage to operate in a pentode region, where V_(GS(M1)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said first MOS transistor, where V_(GS(M3)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said third MOS transistor, and where V₁ comprises a voltage level of said constant voltage source.
 9. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein a voltage drop across said circuit is represented by: V₁−V_(GS(M3)), where V₁ comprises a voltage level of said constant voltage source, and where V_(GS(M3)) comprises a gate-source voltage of said third MOS transistor.
 10. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein a voltage drop across said circuit is approximately 0.2 V.
 11. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein allowable input voltages are allowed to range approximately from an earth level V_(SS) to a power supply level V_(DD).
 12. A circuit, comprising: a first terminal to provide an input current, and a second terminal to provide an output current; wherein said output current comprises a current level k times a current level of said input current, k being larger than one, and wherein allowable input voltages to said first terminal are allowed to range approximately from an earth level V_(SS) to a power supply level V_(DD). 